WITH GROANINGS WHICH CANNOT BE UTTERED

"He (God) takes the meaning of our tears, The language of our groans." - Charles Spurgeon

In praying, words may be sincere and truthful, yet they may not be able to express the full meaning of the supplicant. That is when the soul reaches out to a language that is unutterable - consisting of unuttered groanings, voiceless moanings, silent musings, and inward mournings. These are expressions that are more than the one praying can express or explain in ordinary language. They are the yearnings Godward that are too deep for outward expression.

One thing is for sure - God understands the language of a sigh, groan, or moan. These words are not hid from Him. They are well known to Him.

In Psalm 5:1, David said - "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation."

Notice that David did not just ask the Lord to merely hear the words of his prayer but to also understand or perceive the secret and unexpressed desires of his soul.

Throughout the Scriptures, we find many references to such unutterable prayers.

Job 3:24 says - "For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters." So great was the extremity of Job's pain that he not only sighed before the Lord but actually "roared." His lamentations or loud cries were like the noise of a murmuring stream - like rolling billows or the troubled ocean.

Psalm 19:14 says - "Let...the meditation of my heart..." Here David referred to the inward thoughts revolving in his mind - the mental prayers - as his "meditation."
Psalm 25:1 says - "Unto Thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul." He considered his meditation or thoughts being lifted up to God as the "lifting up of his soul."
Psalm 38:9 says - "Lord, all my desire is before Thee; and my groaning is not hid from Thee." His sighings - expressions of sorrow and anguish - were certainly heard and wholly understood by God.

Ezekiel 9:4 says - "...and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof." The Prophet referred to all those who wept in secret and complained to God because of the dishonor done to His name through the people's wickedness.

John 1:48 says - "...Before that Phillip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee." The Jewish rabbis would sit and study under the fig tree. To retire to such a place for meditation and prayer was not uncommon. In this particular case, Nathanael had an encounter with God where his words were not spoken out loud but voiced in his heart. Jesus, as the Son of the Living God - Who alone knows and reads the hearts of all men - let Nathanael know that He heard the cries of his heart when he was in the "secret place of the Most High."

Romans 8:26 says - "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." When the saints are so burdened and not able to express fully what is conceived in their minds, Holy Spirit stirs up speechless groans which are unutterable, ardent, and fervent to express their deepest emotions.

We have two specific examples in the Scriptures where words were not expressed, yet prayers were spoken to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:13 says - "Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard..." Hannah never spoke an audible prayer, yet God heard and answered by giving her a son which she named - "Samuel." Her thoughts were words to Him.

Exodus 14:15 says - "And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto Me? " In this situation, there is no indication that Moses uttered a word, yet God asked him why he was crying unto Him. Moses' heart was deeply engaged with God. The Lord considered his meditation and responded accordingly.

"He (God) takes the meaning of our tears, The language of our groans."

This message is meant to be a great encouragement to every feeble and discouraged heart and mind.

There may be times when you are facing a terrible crisis in your life, and you simply cannot pray. You have no words to say.

During these times, can you weep?
If tears are denied you, can you sigh?
If sighing doesn't come easily to you, then will you allow Holy Spirit to groan through you?

Your tears, sighs, and unutterable groans speak a language that God understands.

Be encouraged today!

When words fail you, God can discern the inexpressible wish of your burdened soul.

He does and will consider your "meditation."

One last note - if you should hear someone sighing, groaning, or moaning while in prayer, think it not strange. You may not understand what they are saying. But know this - their prayers are breaking through to God. He understands perfectly what's being said.

May God Bless His Word,
Connie

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